C natural tunes
As these tables have been designed to be used in reference to the 2001 edition of
Carolan's music, informative alternative titles have been inserted.
The sign ♪ indicates that a lyric can be associated with the tune. D J O' Sullivan is not
always reliable in his ability to match lyrics to tunes.
The sign * indicates that the ascription of the song or tune to Carolan is either doubtful or
wrongful.
The sign + indicates that the surviving lyrics associated with the tune are not, or are
probably not, by Carolan.
A total of 64 tunes are estimated as belonging to Bunting's key of C natural. From the
surviving evidence, it seems that this is the major key most preferred by Carolan for
making songs just as D natural minor is the most preferred minor key.
Of the 64 items listed in the table, 31 of them (almost half) have lyrics associated with
them. Seven of these are of doubtful or wrongful attribution.
The three most common ranges for C natural tunes are ee-G, ff-c and dd-G, all vocal
ranges.
Richard Cusack (30) may belong to the key of C but the use of the Bunting MS29 p157
tuning of ff natural in leithghléas would accommodate the song on D one sharp if
chromaticism is accepted at the octave.